Zvornik Fortress

Zvornik Castle
Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Site history
Built c.12th century

Zvornik Castle (Bosnian: Kula grad, English: Tower City) is a medieval castle located in Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the mountain Mlađevac overlooking Drina Valley. Zvornik fortress is situated at an altitude of 147 m.[1]

History

The medieval town of Zvornik called "Đurđevgrad" or "Kula Grad" was first mentioned as a property of Bosnian medieval feudal family Zlatonosović in 1410 when Hungarian King Sigismund was in the area.[2] It was probably built in the 12th or 13th century and is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[3]

Austria-Hungary

Part of the structure was destroyed in 1878 during the Austro-Hungarian invasion of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

World War II

Ustasha troops of the fascist Independent State of Croatia occupied the fortress along with the rest of Zvornik and most of Bosnia, in April 1941. The fortress was liberated in July 1943 by the 1st Proletarian Brigade during the Battle of Zvornik.

Bosnian War

Beginning on 8 April 1992, about 300 soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina defended the fortress from Serb soldiers of the Yugoslav People's Army during the first stages of the Bosnian War.[4][5] Following the Bosnian War, Zvornik became a part of Republika Srpska and the new Serb government had a church built on the grounds of the fortress and relocated a church bell from the village of Divič to the new church to mark their "victory" over Bosniaks.[6]

In May 2013, the remains of several war victims from the 1990s conflict were uncovered in Kula grad.[7]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. Zvornik fortress Altitude and Location
  2. "Zvornik: Kule kao svedoci vekova". Novosti. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  3. "Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and its Reversal; page 78". Google Books. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  4. "Kula Grad: Sjećanje na čudo bosanskog otpora". Kalesija info. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  5. "Kula Grad, čudo bosanskog otpora: Bilo nas je 300, samo 150 je imalo oružje". B Portal. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  6. "Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and its Reversal; page 262". Google Books. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  7. "U Zvorniku nastavljena ekshumacija žrtava". Radio Sarajevo. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2014.

Coordinates: 44°22′11″N 19°05′25″E / 44.3697°N 19.0903°E / 44.3697; 19.0903

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